“For Those They Left Behind Them” - Rushden’s Part in the War Fund
A meeting was held at the Coffee Tavern on Wednesday evening to consider the advisability of raising a fund for the relief of the wives and families of those soldiers who are present fighting in Transvaal. Mr Fred Knight (chairman of the Urban Council) presided, and there was a good company, among whom were the Revs. W R Morse, W F Harris, and T Bancroft, and Messrs J Claridge, J S Clipson, W H Wilkins, J Spencer, G H Skinner, Paul Cave, G Miller, G Fountain, B Mortimer, G Denton, T Swindall, G S Mason, J T Colson, E Claridge, F Newman, H Knight, J Wykes Ashdowne, W H Brown, J Jaques, C Bayes, and G Bayes, Dr Owen, and Dr Baker.

The Chairman said the meeting had been called by request of Earl Spencer. They had met together, not to consider the war itself or its origin, but to find the best means of assisting those who had been left behind, the wives and the children of the soldiers. The only question they had to consider was

The Best Way to Help
the sufferers. (Applause). The Urban Council recommended that the fund form part of the County Fund and that a house-to-house collection be made. Everything that was undertaken in Rushden was done throughout, (applause), and they wished to raise a sum that was worthy of the town. (Applause).

Mr G H Skinner proposed that a fund be raised, and allied to the County Fund.

Mr Paul Cave seconded, and the motion was carried.

Mr James Jaques thought that the attention of the Government should be called to the matter. He thought it was a shame for them to let men go out and not make provision for those they left behind.

Mr Wilkins said he thought it was a shame that men should go out and their wives and children be left to be supported by the workhouse or the public, but it was clearly their duty to do all they could. (Hear, hear.)

Mr John Claridge moved that a subscription list be opened and a

House-To-House Collection
made.

Mr Denton seconded the proposition, which was carried.

Mr Geo. Mason and Mr Wilkins were appointed treasurers, and the following committee was elected:- The Rev W R Morse, and Messrs F Knight, J Claridge, J T Colson, C L Bradfield, C E Bayes, T Sargent, Paul Cave, W Sanders, C R Owen, T Swindall, Bazeley, Barron, Mortimer, W H Brown, E Jenkins, and Woods, and a representative from the Athletic Club.

A subscription list was at once opened, and before the meeting broke up £66 was promised.

The Committee then remained to arrange for a house-to-house collection, and appoint collectors.

The Transvaal War Fund - Collection Results at Rushden
The treasurer and secretaries of the fund being raised for the wives and children of the soldiers fighting in South Africa, attended at the Vestry Hall on Wednesday evening, to receive the reports of the house-to-house collection. For this purpose the town had been divided into thirty-one districts, and the amounts collected were as follows:-

The total received from the house-to-house collection was £64 14s., and adding this to the £188 previously reported, and £11 11s. since promised, makes Rushden’s present total contribution to the fund £259. The return from one district has to be added to this amount.